Reset valve



2 Sheets-Sheet 2` g e l n a l vu www l Feb. 26, 1946.` Y J. l.. EwlNG RESET VALVE Filed Nov. 24, 194s v lllllll ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2e, 1946 2,395,470 Y RESET vALvE John Lathrop Ewing, San Marino, Calif., assignor to General Controls Co., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Application imwemberV 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,537

provide 'a reset valve having an actuator for the 6 Claims.

This invention relates to adual valve structure; more particularly the invention relates to an electromagnetic reset valve for i'luid fuels.

Such valves are used in fuel supply systems to control the flow of fuel to the burner, and to prevent such flow of fuel unless a pilot flame is.

burning. A valve structure of this character usually comprises a pair of valves, both of which must b e open to permit passage of fuel through the valve structure. One of these valves forming a safety valve is arranged to be maintained open by an electromagnet energized by a therzrnocouple heated by the pilot flame;` The other, or main, valve is manually operable to regulate the passage of fuel to the main burner. Thus, the latter valve may be opened or closed` as desired, the

pilot flame serving to ignite the fuel passing through the burner wheneverthis valve is open.

If the pilot flame is extinguished, the safety valve closes, thus preventing passage of` fuel through the main valve. To reestablish the fuel supply, the safety valve, must be manually returned to open position or reset, and held in such position until the pilot flame is lighted, after which this valve may be released, the electromagnet serving to retain it in open position. If, however, the ame fails to light for any reason, release of the safety valve permits the valve to close again, and the resetting `operation must be repeated. Manual resetting of this character is required, because the electromagnet when energized is incapable of attracting the safety valve closure to open position. However, if the Safety valve closure is manually moved to open position, the electromagnet has enough force to maintain the valve in open position.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a. valve structure of compact and simplified construction and having an improved mode of operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reset valve wherein the resetting operation may be performed by the closing of the mainvalve or optionally at any time thereafter.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a reset valve includinga main valve and a safety valve, and so arranged that operation of the main valve may optionally act directly to actuate the safety valve.

It is still another object of this invention to' provide a reset valve having an actuator for opening thesafety valve and so arranged that operation of said actuator is ineffective to open the safety valve unless the main valve is closed.

It isstill another object of this invention to safety valve, so arranged that'closing of the main valve causes `the actuator to open the safety valve.

. It is a still further .object of this invention to provid`e a reset valve having anactuator for the safety valve which is movable in one direction in response to movement of the main'valve and optionally in another direction, movement of the .actuator ineither of these directions serving to condition the actuator to operate the safety valve,

and movement of the actuator in the other direction operating the valve. Thus, the safety valve maybe operated in response to the closing movement of the main valve, or. it may be operated by another movementany time after the main valve is closed. i

This invention possesses many otherwadvantages, and has other objects which maybe made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is Shown a form in the drawings accompanying and4 formingA part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles ofthe invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, sinceA the scope of this-invention is best defined by the appended claims.

. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a valve incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section as seen on plane 2--2of Fig. 1;

Fis. 3 is a pictorial view of the safetyvalve closure member;

Fig. 4 isa pictorial view of the operating cam:

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the valve in a diiferent operating position; and

Fig. 6 is a section as seen on plane 6-3 of Fig. 5.

This valve is of the typefor `controlling the iiuid `fuel supply to afbumer which is intermittently operated, a constantly burning pilot ame being provided for igniting the main burnerafter periods of'inactivity. 4 A

The valve structure comprises a main valve 3 which is manually operable for optionally controlling the supply of fuel to a main burner (not shown). Obviously itiis important `to provide means whereby, upon extinguishment of the main burner and ofthe pilot burner, the supply of fuel to these burners is interrupted. Further, means must be provided for preventing re-establishment of the supply to the main burner until the pilot supply to the burners.

burner has been relighted. For this purpose, a safety valve I is provided controlling the passage of fuel through the valve and is adapted to be retained in open position by an electromagnet 2, energized in response to electricity generated by the heat of the pilot burner flame in a well known manner, as by a thermocouple (not shown). Upon the extinguishment of the pilot burner for any reason, electromagnet 2 is de-energized, permitting valve I to close, and stopping all fuel condition when the valve I is reopened, the means for opening valve I is so arranged that main valve 3 must be closed before the valve I can be opened, Further, before both valves I and 3 can be maintained in open position, the pilot burner must be lighted to energize magnet 2 to retain valve I in open position. V.

The valve structure comprises an elongated body I having axially aligned threaded openings II and I2 at its opposite ends for connection to suitable conduits and forming, respectively, the inlet and outlet. Between the inlet and outlet openings II and I2 is a transverse opening I3, closed kby a detachable cover I4. There is also a boss I5 extending transversely of body I0 and forming a seat I9 for a taperedrotary plug I1, and a web wall I8. The boss I5, plug I1, and wall I8 servetointerru'pt communication between the. inlet II and outlet I2. VI'o establish communication between the inlet and the outlet, plug I1 has ari-axial port I9 adapted to connectl with inlet `I I and intersected by a radial port2|| adapted toconnect with outlet I2 through port 2| in the' boss I3. Rotation of plug I1 in seat I4 serves to place ports and 2| into or out of registry as desired.

Safety `valve I includes a valve member 23 in the form of a disc of magnetic material adapted to cooperate with a'valve seatV 24 formed on the upper end f boss I5. A light compression spring 25 urges disc 23 toward seat 24. When member 23 is on seat 24, communication between inlet II and port I9 is interrupted; hence, no uid can pass from inlet to outlet I2 regardless of the registry of ports 20 and 2|.

lThe body I0 has a downwardly extending circular wall 28 coaxialwith seat I6, defining a space 29 which forms a continuation of the space within seat I5. Wall 28 is interiorly threaded for the reception of av cap 30, through which passes stem 3| of plug I1. A compression spring 32 surrounds stem 3|' and is conned between the cap 30 and the bottom of plug I1, for the purpose of maintaining plugv I1 on its seat I5. The outer portion of stem 3| is splined as at 33 for the reception of an operating handle 34, and threaded at for a nut 36 which secures handle 34 on the stem 3|. 1 f c As a means of unseating the safety valve closure 23, an actuator is mounted in port I9 of the plug I1. Actuator 4U comprises a cross piece or member 4| extending diametrically of port I9, with upturned projections or cams 42 at'its opposite ends providing projectible cam surfaces 43 (see Fig. 4). These projections 42 engage slots or key ways 44 formed in the plug I1 'f'hereby the actuator 40 is constrained to rotate with the plug. Cross piece 4| is suitably securedto the upper end 'of apost vor stem 45 coaxial with plug |1 and axially movable therein. Post `45 extends through a bore 46 in stem 3| and has an operating extension 41 of increased diameter which extends out of the lower end of stem 3 I.

Bore has an enlarged portion 43 for accom-` To avoid a dangerous l tain packing 50 on shoulder 49 as well as to ex-V pand it into packing relation with stem 46 and the interior of bore 48." Spring 52 also serves to resiliently maintain actuator 49 in its normal or retracted position shown in Fig. 1. To limit movement of actuator 40 in response to spring 52, a conical stop member 53 is provided on post 45 and is arranged vto seat at the upper end of bore 46. This stop 53 thus serves to prevent leakage of fuel outwardly past stem 45 when the actuator is in normal position. When stem 45 is raised for the purpose of opening safety valve I, as will be presently described, packing 50 serves to prevent such leakage past the stem 45. Packv ing 50 also'supplements the sealing action of the stop 53, checking any leakage that mayV escape past this stop.

Safety valve closure 23 is provided with cams 54, providing cam surfaces 55 (see Fig. 3) for cooperating lrespectively with cams 42 and cam surfaces 43. The arrangement is such that with actuator 40 in its lower or normal position, cams 42. willclear cams 54 nfor any and al1 positions of plug I1 about its axis, as will appear from an y inspectionof Fig. 1 which illustrates the valve structure with the' safety valve Iseated, as it would ybe when the pilot flameis not burning.

Furthermore, with the main valve or plug I1 open as shown, axial movement of actuator 40 to its uppermost position as indicated by the broken lines, will not affect the closure 23 since Y With'head 41-a of the operating extension."` in engagement with the end of stem 3|, the high 40 points of cams 42 can not engage closure 23.

cam surfaces 43, etc. are capable of movement. in diverse directions, that is, movement vertically or axially ofrplug I1 and rotary or angular movement about the axis of plug I1 together with the plug, and that either movement may be In other words, cams 43 are angularly displaced in either direction fromcams 54. However, if plugl I1 is rotated approximately in either direction from the position of Fig. 1, for example to that of Fig. 5, cams 42 and. 54

will be operatively alined one abovev the other or in Ka vertical direction,` and upward movement of actuator 40 will .cause engagementof the high points of cam surfaces 43V and 55 and'lift clo' Y Or if member sure member 23 from its seat. 4|! ispressed Vupwardly to about the brokenline position of Fig. l, the cams 42 and 54 will operatively be alined in a polardirection or circumferentially about the axis of plug I1, whereupon rotation of plug I1 will cause engagement of the sides of camsurfaces 43 and 55, the inclination of these surfaces being such that continued rotation of the plug will raise closure member 23 from its seat 24. For such operation it is necessary that member 23 be restrained against rotation. Accordingly, magnet 2 is mounted in a cup 56 secured in casing I4 as by ascrew 51 and provided with teeth 58 on its lower edge, which engage slots 59 formed in the periphery of closure 23. The coil on electromagnet 2 is connected by leads 50 within cap |4-to binding posts Ell-a, which in turn are vto be joined to the thermocou; ple orthe like by appropriate conductors (not shown). Y i

It will be understood that the actuator 40,

vso proportioned that with `ping l1 substantially 90 from the position of Fig. 1, actuator 40 will have ample axial movement to bring closure 23 into contact with surface 62 of magnet 2. Further, the angular extent of ports and 2| is such as compared with the proportions of cams 42 and 54 that the ports are entirely out of registry before cam surfaces 43 and 55 can be brought into engagement. Thus the safety valve I can not be opened until the main valve 3 is closed.

For supplying fuelto the pilot burner, aport l 61 is provided in boss I 5, just below valve seat 24 and above plug I1. This port communicates with i the pilot burner through a suitable conduit and passage inv body I0 (not shown). By so locating port 61, fuel supply to the pilot is stopped upon closure of the safety valve I, as a result of extingllshirlg of the pilot; at the same timethe fuel supplied to the pilot is independent of valve 3, which may be opened or closed without affecting the pilot iiame. The operation of the valve structure is as follows.

When the pilot flame is not burning, either as a result of accidental extinguishment or upon initiation `of operation, closure 23 of safetyvalve I is on `its seat 24, preventing any passage of `fuel from inlet II to outlet I2, or to pilotport 61. When it is desired to open safety valve Ito initiate operation of the system or to reset the valve,` the main plug I1 may be turned about 90 from the position of Fig. l to operatively aline cams 42 and l 54 in a vertical direction. To aid in determining when the cams are properly alined, a groove 63 (see Fig. 6) may be provided in body Ill at the lower end oi' seat I 6, extending slightly more than halfway about the periphery of the seat. The opposite ends E4 and 65 of groove 63 form stops adapted to cooperate with a pin 66 carried by plug I1 for limiting movement of the plug to 90 in either direction from the position of Fig. 1. With plug I1 90 from the position of Fig. 1, for example in the position of Fig. 5, upward pressure is exerted on operating extension 41 to move actuator 40 upwardly, which upward movement is transmitted to closure member 23, moving it off seat 24 and into engagement with face 62 of magnet 2. This permits fuel to pass frominlet II to port 61 and thence to the pilot burner, but no fuel can pass to outlet I 2 and the main burner due to the closed position of plug I1.

Or the safety valve closure 23 can be brought into open position by first pressing the actuator 40 upwardly to the limit of its movement and then rotating plug I1 90 in either direction to closed position. In this case the rotation of plug I1 acts to unseat closure 23, while in the first case the vertical movement of actuator 4I) unseats closure 23. In either case, plug I1 must be closed before closure 23 can be unseated; and in the first case, closure 23 can be unseated at any time after closure of plug I1. Thus the safety `valve I may be opened either independently of the closing operation of the main valve or as a function of such operation.

To retain closure 23 inopen position after release by theactuatorl, either by removal of the upward pressure on the actuator `4I) or by rotation of plug I1 'to open position, it is necessary that magnet 2 be energized. For this purpose. the pilot burner must-be lighted and kept burning for a brief period until the thermocouple heated thereby generates suicient current to energize magnet 2. Upon extinguishment of the pilot flame, magnet 2 is immediately deenergized, a1- lowing closure 23 to seatin response to gravity and the force of spring 25. l

What is claimed is: i Y l 1. In a valve structure, a body having a fluid passage therethrough, a first valve andV a `second valve in said body, each being movable between open and closed positions for controlling iiow of fluid through said passage, actuating means for said second valve carried by said rst valve for movement with said iirst valve as it moves between open and closed positions and being freely movable in a direction transverse to the direction of such movement, to and from a position in which it is adapted to actuate said second valve, operating means for moving said first valve between open and closed positions and for movingsaid `actuating means to and from actuating position,

said second valve having a member for moving it from closed to open position, said member being positioned to be engaged and moved by said actuating means, said actuating'means being so shaped as to cause said mem-ber to open said second valveyonly. when said actuating means has been moved fully to its actuating, first valve closed position, by operation of said operating means either, first, to close said first valige and then to move said actuating means to actuating position,`

or, first, to move said actuating means to actuating position and then to close said first valve.

2. In a valve structure, a body having a iiuid passagel therethrough, a iirst valve and a second valve in said body, each being movable between open and closed positions for controlling flow of iiuid through said passage, actuating means for second valve carried by said first valve for movement with said iirst valve as it moves between open and closed positions and being freely movable in a direction transverse to the direction of l such movement, to and from a position in which it is adapted to actuate said second valve, operating means for moving said rst valve between open and closed positions, means for moving said actuating means to and from actuating position, said second valve having a member for moving it from closed to open position, said member being positioned to be engaged and moved by said actuating means, said actuating means being so shaped as to cause said member to open said second valve only when said actuating means has been moved fully to its actuating, first valve closed position, either by operation of said operating means, first, to close said :drst valve and then by moving said actuating means to actuating position, or by first moving said actuating .means to actuating position and then operating said operating means to close the iirst valve.

3. In a valve structure, a body having a fluid passage therethrough, a iirst valve and a second valve in said body, each being movable between open and'closed positions for controlling ow of fluid through said passage, actuating means movable with said iirst valve as it moves between open and closed positions and in the direction of such movement, and being freely movable in another direction between retracted and extended positions, operating means for moving said rst valve between open and closed positions and for moving said actuating means betweenv retracted and extended positions, said second valve having a member for moving it from closed to open position, said member being positioned to be engaged and moved by said actuating meansl said actuating means being so shaped as to move said member to open said second valve only when said actuating means has been moved fully to its extended, rst valve closed position, by movement of said operating means either, first, to close said first valve and then to extend said actuating means, or rst to extend said actuating means and then to close said first valve.

4. In a valve structure, a body having a uid passage therethrough, a first valve havinga rotary closure and a second valve having a closure movable transversely of the direction of rotation of said rotary closure, each of said closures being movable between open and closed positions for controlling flow of iiuid through `said passage, actuating means movable with said rotary closure as it moves between open and closed positions, and being freely movable in adirection transverse to said rotary movement, between retracted and extended positions, operating meansfor moving said rotary closure between open and closed positions and for moving said actuating means between retracted and extended positions, said second valve closure having a member for moving it from closed to open position, said member being positioned to be engaged and moved by said actuating means, said actuating means being so shaped as to move said member to open said second valve only throughouta definite range of angularI movement of said rotary closure.

5. In a valve structure, a rotatable plug, a valve body providing a seat for said plug, said plug being operable to open and closed positions to control the passage of fluid by way of the plug, and having for that purpose a passageway opening in one end of the plug, means adjacent the end of said passageway forming a safety valve seat', a closure adapted to cooperate with said seat for controlling passage of duid through said passageway andl movable toward and away from said seat, actuatingV means movable with said plug asit moves between open and closed positions and being freelymovable in the direction of movement of said closure between retracted and extended positions, operating means ior moving said plug between open vand closed positions and for moving said actuating means between retracted and extended positions, said closure having a member for moving it from its seat, said member being positioned to be engaged and moved by said actuating means, said actuating positions for controlling flow of fluid through said` passage, actuating means supported for reciproeating movement axially with respect to the rotary closure and freely movable between retracted and extended positions, means restraining said actuator against relative angular motion with respect to said rotary closure, operating means for moving said rotary closure between open and closed positions and for moving said actuating means between retracted and extend- "ed positions, said reciprocable closure having a member for moving it from closed to open position, said member being adapted to be engaged and moved by said actuating means, said actuating means being so shaped as to move said member to move said reciprocable closure to open position only throughout a definite range of angular movement of said rotary closure.

JOHN LATHROP EWING.- 

